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FIS 100 1003

INTRO TO FILM

3.0 Credits

INSTRUCTOR: Dale Melgaard

SPRING 2019

email: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION TO WEB CAMPUS If you are new to Web Campus, please click on Let’s Get Started and New To Web Campus to understand how this online course will function. In addition to this Syllabus, always check Announcements and Course Schedule for specific due dates and assignments. DUE DATES ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY If you encounter technical problems with Web Campus… FIRST contact Web Campus Support at 702-895-0777 OR [email protected] Technical problems are solved by Web Campus Technical Specialists not your instructor.

COURSE DESCRIPTION This is an introductory course in the historical and critical study of film. Through screenings, lecture notes, and discussions, students will learn the basic terminology and fundamental elements of cinema. We will follow the evolution of film production from its beginnings in France to contemporary American films. The study of film history includes following the development and influence of these perspectives: technical, cultural, economic, social and aesthetic.

COURSE OVERVIEW We will follow the history of film chronologically from the late 1800’s to the present day. Most of the films we view will be American productions. We will screen a small selection of foreign films for the purpose of understanding how a particular film or director has influenced and modified the way films are made in the US. The selection of films you will view are considered to be groundbreaking and/or classic by International, American, and UNLV Film Department standards. Please view them with an open mind and a sense of historical perspective and context. The object is to appreciate the film for its contributions to history and not necessarily to criticize it by today’s standards.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK A Short History of the Movies, Mast and Kawin, Abridged Tenth Edition, Published by Pearson and Longman. ISBN 10:0205665926 Or the Abridged Eleventh Edition. Available at the bookstore or Amazon.com or any source you can think of to save money. REQUIRED FILM VIEWING All the films listed in the syllabus are required viewing. These are options for viewing the films for this course: 1) Most of the films are on reserve in the Lied Library Media Resource Center. Call to confirm film availability: 895-2122 2) Rent, purchase, stream or download through Netflix, Amazon, Vudu etc. It is important to investigate the costs to save money so look carefully for special offers. Netflix and Amazon for example are offering a 30 day trial period that includes unlimited streaming or rent films individually for two or three dollars. 3) unlv.kanopy.com and openculture.com are free. If you have difficulties accessing a film, please let me know. For each of the required films, I have indicated its availability by streaming or downloading at Kanopy, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu etc. Websites often change their film offerings without notice so the availability of films listed in the Learning Modules may not be accurate. Feel free to share with your classmates any website(s) not listed here. DISCLAIMER You are not required to sit through a film that offends, disturbs, or upsets you in any way. Please inform the instructor. Your grade will not be affected. HOWEVER if you cannot view R rated films for religious or any other reason, do not take this course.

CLASS SCHEDULE/PROCEDURES This course begins April 1 and concludes with the Final Exam on May 13. The course is divided into 14 modules and 14 corresponding written discussion post assignments. From the main menu, click on “Discussions” to submit the answer.

There is one midterm exam on April 22 and one final exam on May 13. All assignments and exams are graded on a point system. Exam dates are strictly adhered to and clearly listed in this syllabus. Make arrangements now with your employment and social situations so you can take exams on the scheduled days. There will be a study guide posted in “Announcements” one week before the midterm and one week before the final exam.

LEARNING OUTCOMES _ Acquire a basic understanding of the 120 year history and development of film from its genesis to the present day. _ Identity the historical, economic, technical and social criteria that influenced the growth of film as an industry. _Develop a fundamental vocabulary of film terminology. _ Be familiar with the classic films, groundbreaking directors, and celebrated actors. _ Develop analytical abilities to criticize and evaluate individual films in general. _ Comprehend storytelling in terms of genre, style, plot and character development. _ Articulate the difference between film as a business and an art.

TIMELINES AND DUE DATES Timelines and Due Dates are not the same thing. TIMELINE: The Module dates are a suggested timeline to follow so you don’t fall behind with reading assignments and film viewing. DUE DATES: The Discussion Post schedule specifies Due Dates for the written Posts. The Module timeline and the Discussion Post Due Dates are located in this syllabus. They are also located on the main menu on the home page by clicking on “Let’s Get Started” or “Syllabus” or “Course Schedule”.

MODULE 1 April 1, 2, 3 Topics: Film as a business, as entertainment, as an art form. Evolution of editing. Screenings:

Lumiere’s First Picture Shows (watch thru Train Arriving at Station) (Kanopy) The Great Train Robbery (YouTube) A Trip To the Moon (YouTube) A Girl And Her Trust (YouTube) A Corner In Wheat (YouTube) Gaumont Treasures, Part 1 (watch thru Automated Hat Maker) (Kanopy) Three Films by Alice Guy Blache (watch the text intro and then the second film, Canned Harmony that starts at the 16 minute mark) (Kanopy)

Textbook Reading: Chapters 1 – 4

MODULE 2 April 4, 5, 6 Topics: The great silent film comics: Chaplin and Keaton Screenings:

Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin Charlie Chaplin Buster Keaton Ub Iwerks

Screening

Buster Keaton The General (Kanopy, YouTube, Amazon)

(Kanopy, Youtube, Open Culture)

Easy Street (YouTube) The Immigrant (YouTube) The Rink (piano score version YouTube) Cops (YouTube) Steamboat Willie (openculture.com) 1927

Textbook Reading: Chapters 5 and 6 MODULE 3 April 7, 8, 9, 10 Topics: Genres: Horror and Science Fiction Screening;

Metropolis Fritz Lang 1926 Watch the abridged version. (Kanopy, YouTube, Amazon, Open Culture) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Robert Wiene 1920 Watch the first 30 minutes. (Kanopy, YouTube, Amazon, iTunes, OpenCulture)

1917 1917 1917 1922 1928

Topics: Stylistic Filmmaking: The Director’s Vision Screening:

The Battleship Potemkin Sergei Eisenstein (Kanopy, Amazon, Vudu, Open Culture)

1925

Textbook Reading: Chapters 7 and 8

MODULE 4 April 11, 12 Topics: Sound Films Warner Bros. Screening:

Film as Social Commentary Films for the working class

I Am Fugitive From a Chain Gang (YouTube, iTunes, Amazon,Vudu)

Mervyn Leroy 1932

Textbook Reading: Chapter 9

MODULE 5 April 13, 14 Topics: Hollywood Studio System Screening:

Production Code Administration

It Happened One Night Frank Capra (Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, iTunes)

1934

Textbook Reading: Chapter 11

MODULE 6 April 15, 16, 17, 18 Topics: Technicolor Screenings:

MGM

Genre: musical

The Wizard of Oz Victor Fleming (YouTube, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu)

1939

Fantasia (YouTube)

1940

Algar and Armstrong

MODULE 7 April 19, 20 Topic:

Classic Hollywood Cinema Actor: Humphrey Bogart

Screening: Casablanca (Amazon, Vudu, iTunes)

Michael Curtiz

3 Act Dramatic Structure

1942

MIDTERM EXAM April 22 . (Study Guide available one week before the exam)

MODULE 8 April 21, 22 Topic:

US vs. Paramount

Hollywood 10

Screening:

On the Waterfront Elia Kazan (Amazon, Vudu, iTunes)

1950’s: Rise of Television 1954

Textbook Reading: Chapter 12

MODULE 9 April 23, 24, 25, 26 Topic:

Italian Neo Realism

Screening:

Bicycle Thief Vittorio De Sica (Kanopy, Amazon, YouTube, iTunes)

Topic:

French New Wave.

Screening:

400 Blows Francois Truffaut 1959 (Amazon, Hulu, YouTube, iTunes, Kanopy)

Textbook Reading: Chapter 13

1948

Auteur Theory

MODULE 10 April 27, 28, 29, 30 Topic:

National Cinemas: Sweden

Screening:

Wild Strawberries Ingmar Bergman (Kanopy, Amazon, iTunes)

Topic:

National Cinemas: Japan

Screening:

Yojimbo Akira Kurosawa (Kanopy, Amazon, iTunes)

1957

1961

Textbook Reading: Chapter 14

MODULE 11 May 1, 2 Topic:

Decline of the Production Code

Screening:

The Graduate Mike Nichols (Netflix, Amazon, iTunes)

Independent filmmaking. 1967

Textbook Reading: Chapter 15

MODULE 12 May 3, 4 Topic:

Hollywood Blockbusters

Screening:

Jaws Steven Speilberg 1975 (Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, iTunes)

Textbook Reading: Chapter 17

MODULE 13 May 5, 6 Topic:

Films of Social Consciousness.

Actor: Jack Nicholson

Screening:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (iTunes, Vudu, Fandango Now)

Milos Forman

1975

MODULE 14 May 7, 8, 9, 10 Topic:

The Film School Generation

Screening:

Boyz N The Hood Do the Right Thing

Films of Personal Expression

John Singleton Spike Lee

1991 1989

(Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, iTunes)

FINAL EXAM May 13

GRADING

Midterm Exam April 22 Final Exam May 13 14 Discussion Posts 8 points

Midterm April 22

True/False Multiple Choice Matching Covers Modules 1-7

Final

May 13

77 points 77 points 112 points 266 Total Points

True-False Multiple Choice Matching Covers Modules 8-14!

! Missed exams cannot be made up without a documented medical or family emergency. Plan your schedule now to avoid conflicts on the exam dates. Work, jobs, employment, working on a film project, travel plans, etc. are not acceptable excuses to miss an exam. DISCUSSION POSTS – Grade value is 8 (eight) points per module. Each discussion post is worth up to 8 points depending on its quality and length and illustrations/ examples from the film. Writing less than 250 words will result in an automatic loss of points. There will be a serious loss of points if you do not support your statements and observations with specific examples from the films that should include characters, scenes, themes, and events. General comments will receive no credit because it indicates that you did not see the film. 1) A minimum of two hundred (250) words per question, reflecting your insights and observations. 2) Posts must be supported with specific illustrations and examples from the film. Sometimes there are two questions for one module.

3) The content of the posts include your thoughts and observations and must include specific examples from the film itself. There will be a serious loss of points if you do not support your statements and observations with specific examples from the films that should include characters, scenes, themes, and events. General comments will receive no credit because it indicates that you did not see the film. 4) Original content only. Do not cite or quote outside sources. 5) There will be a loss of points for the following: A) Listing production details about the film, such as directors, actors, producers year of release, box office, awards, critical acclaim, etc. B) Summarizing the plot. C) Writing less than 250 words per question. D) Spelling, syntax, and grammar mistakes. No credit will be received for late discussion posts. The final course grade will drop one full grade for every 3 (three) discussion posts not turned in. For example, if your final course grade is a B and you missed 3 discussion posts, then your final course grade will be a C. Discussion Posts 1 and 2 must be completed by April 7 to receive credit. Discussion Posts 3-5 must be completed by April 14 to receive credit. Discussion Posts 6 and 7 must be completed by April 21 to receive credit. Discussion Posts 8 and 9 must be completed by April 28 to receive credit. Discussion Posts 10 - 12 must be completed by May 5 to receive credit. Discussion Posts 13 and 14 must be completed by May 12 to receive credit.

No credit will be received after the due dates for the specified modules, but the course grade penalty will be avoided. EXTRA CREDIT: This raises the question of fairness to all students. If one student is given the privilege of extra credit, then in fairness to all students, everyone should have that option. Therefore there is no extra credit. Plan your schedule now to avoid conflicts on the exam dates. Work, travel plans, etc. are not acceptable excuses to miss an exam.

Academic Misconduct – Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at: http://studentconduct.unlv.edu/misconduct/policy.html. Copyright – The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at: http://provost.unlv.edu/copyright/statements.html.

II. Academic Misconduct Violations – Definitions Academic Misconduct is any intentional or unintentional occurrence of the following:

3

1

Using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the source(s), commonly called plagiarism.

2

Receiving unauthorized external assistance during an examination or any academic exercise for credit. This includes, but is not limited to: ◦

Providing or receiving aid in connection with any academic assignment;

◦

Use or possession of camera telephones, text messages, computer disks, audio recorders, calculators, solution materials, photocopies, materials from previous classes, commercial research services, notes or other means to copy or photograph materials used or intended for academic evaluation for use during the academic evaluation or assignment;

◦

Communication in any manner with another student;

◦

Working with others on graded coursework, including in-class, on-line and take-home examinations; or

◦

Possessing, reading, buying, selling or using any materials intended for an academic evaluation or assignment in advance of its administration.

Turning in the same work in more than one class (or when repeating a class), unless permission is received in advance from the instructor.

4

Falsifying information for inclusion in an assigned paper, project or exercise; including inventing or altering data from a laboratory or field project, or creating fictional citations for a paper.

5

Attempting to influence or change any academic evaluation, assignment or academic records for reasons having no relevance to academic achievement. This includes, but is not limited to, bribery, threats and making unauthorized changes to any academic record.

6

Falsifying or misrepresenting attendance, hours, or activities in relationship to any class, internship, externship, field experience, clinical activity or similar activity.

7

Acting or attempting to act as a substitute for another, or using or attempting to use a substitute, in any academic evaluation or assignment.

8

Facilitating, permitting or tolerating any of the above-listed items.

Disability Resource Center (DRC) – The Disability Resource Center (DRC) determines accommodations that are “reasonable” in promoting the equal access of a student reporting a disability to the general UNLV learning experience. In so doing, the DRC also balances instructor and departmental interests in maintaining curricular standards so as to best achieve a fair evaluation standard amongst students being assisted. In order for the DRC to be effective it must be considered in the dialog between the faculty and the student who is requesting accommodations. For this reason faculty should only provide students course adjustment after having received an “Academic Accommodation Plan.” If faculty members have any questions regarding the DRC, they should call a DRC counselor. UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC-A), Room 143, phone (702) 895-0866, fax (702) 895-0651. For additional information, please visit: http:// drc.unlv.edu/.

Religious Holidays Policy – Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor within the first 14 calendar days of the course for fall and spring courses (excepting modular courses) or within the first 7 days of the course for summer and modular courses, of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering the test or examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the university that could not reasonably been avoided. For additional information, please visit: http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php? catoid=4&navoid=164.

Transparency in Learning and Teaching – The University encourages application of the transparency method of constructing assignments for student success. Please see these two links for further information. www.unlv.edu/provost/teachingandlearning www.unlv.edu/provost/transparency

Incomplete Grades - The grade of I – Incomplete – can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed all course work up to the withdrawal date of that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the studen...